So, this is the final chapter, now that I see it clearly. :D I was nervous about forcing it, but I feel I did not. Enjoy.

Chapter Fifteen

The Vorta and the Trill

"So...it was a suicide bomb."

Kira nodded grimly when she gathered Ezri, Odo and Bashir in the office with her. The body of Avis Jael had been examined further and discovered traces of her DNA where the bomb had been found planted in the corridor, after the flames and smoke had been cleared, the site preserved for further investigation. But rest assured, it was Jael who planted the bomb on level one of the habitat ring.

"How could she do this with innocent lifeforms around her?" Julian asked with disgust. Ezri would like to know that herself; how could she not have seen more to Jael's anger and depression, seen any signs of suicide? How could Jael DO this?

"This is my fault," she whispered, avoiding eye contact with everyone. "I didn't even see this coming. I was her counselor; I should be held responsible for this, Colonel." And so she should be, but then she could hear Jadzia assuring her that it wasn't her fault, that no one could ever see anything like this coming...

"Ezri, no one is holding you responsible for this," Odo told her, Kira's nod adding assurance. "However, we would like to hear about your prognosis of the Bajoran responsible for this." He was no longer constable, but his reputation and resourcefulness never abandoned him. Ezri sighed and sat down in one of the chairs in front of the desk, folding her arms across her chest.

"Avis Jael was suffering a severe depression following the death of her husband and the difficulty of raising her daughter alone. She was always so angry that she was never afraid to show it, but that's common in a lot of women who lose their husband - but to even attempt anything as morbid as Jael had is rare to none. Even I never saw it coming." She shook her head again. "How could she do this to her daughter, Kira? Odo - the rest of you?"

Kira shook her head, clasping her hands in front of her. "I'd love to know that myself. A Bajoran who would do this not only to her own child but to other innocents around her; I never thought I would say this, but I hope she felt pain when she took her own life. It might as well be more than she deserved than by someone else's hand."

In her mind, Ezri agreed. However, the more human side of her brain said that Jael was a woman who had a family, sacrificed so much for those she loved - but in the end, it took away her sanity. Ciel was an innocent little girl who didn't understand that but would very soon. And speaking of which... "But what about her daughter?" she asked Kira, afraid of the answer.

To her surprise, Nerys gave a small smile. "Ciel won't go to an orphanage on Bajor, but she seems to like you and Weyoun, Dax. But..." That smile faded and was replace with concern. "...are you sure you can handle raising her until she's old enough to leave you?"

Ezri had to say it was a challenge worth taking, given five hosts had children and Jadzia would have had one if she survived. She could still hear her predecessor's words before she died with Worf beside her: "Our baby...would have been so beautiful." She began to wonder how Weyoun would take with raising a child now that his memories of an old, normal life had returned to him.

That also meant he would be returning to the Gamma Quadrant very soon, now that he knew what he had to do with his people. "Odo, what about Weyoun? He'll have to go back to the Gamma Quadrant with you, won't he?"

Odo nodded somberly. "He'll have to, as do I, both of us for the sake of our people. However, I myself am considering...coming back to DS9 for good," he said when he turned to look back down at Kira, his love from not that long ago. "I'm finished with the Great Link, and I have a promise to keep."

He was returning permanently, leaving his people for good? She could very well see everything on Kira's face, might as well mirror it on Dax's. "You're coming back to all of us," she said softly. "And I was beginning to give up hope on you at all."

If those two were going to have a lover's reconciliation, then there ought to be no reason for her and Julian to be here to witness all of this. "Well, we really should be going," Julian said with a laugh, reaching down to take her hand into his and help her stand, leading her out of the office so the former constable and the colonel could have whatever time they had in there. "Odo coming back," Julian said as soon as they were out of there and back in Ops. "That's a nice change back to how it used to be, except not as our Chief of Security."

She had to admit she did want Odo back the way it used to be, but that would be between him and Kira, and his own choice to make. There was also the matter of her and Weyoun's future, as well as Julian and Eris to talk about. "What about you and Eris? You two seemed to be getting along very well."

Julian looked down at her with a twitching mouth. "She's very fascinating, for an overall word," he answered. "Delightful, useful, has a wondrous sense of humor, knows how to..." He trailed off right there. "Well, it all began when I found her in that Cardassian refugee camp. I honestly do not know how to explain it all without making you uncomfortable, Ezri."

"It won't make me uncomfortable at all, Julian," she assured him. "So, what about her?"

"She's dedicated and loyal, excelling in about everything, even helps me with the patients. She truly cares about everyone around her, but with everything the Founders have done to her people..." He trailed off, sadness overcoming in his entire face. "It's difficult to administer into your psyche, Counselor." his tone was meant to joke, but this was no laughing matter. "Her and Weyoun, before they have us..."

She nodded absently. "I know. So, does this mean you and Eris will be getting serious now?"

"I would love to, but she might be leaving to return to the Gamma Quadrant with Weyoun. Unless she can live here with me now if she would want to. Not very many Vorta - perhaps none - ever leave their people like Odo has."

And if Weyoun left, then she might never see him. Even if she would, then it would be a long time again.

~o~

He was due to go back to the Gamma Quadrant in three more weeks; he had almost forgotten what home was like. He wondered if he would end up returning to Kurill Prime with a fresher perspective as soon as he laid his eyes on it again...

But that meant leaving Ezri behind for a long time again.

Ever since he recovered and left the infirmary, everyone around him began to look at him...differently. He no longer got scowls or glares of hate, but appraisal, and his ears picked up every word they said: "The hero of the habitat ring...almost died in the fire...saved a Bajoran child..."

Weyoun closed his eyes then. He had been called a hero.

Something inside him was trying to force that wonderful forgiveness praise back into his subconscious, but something much stronger urged him to accept it as these people were beginning to see he was not the Weyoun they dealt with under the last few years. He even had the chance to have that conversation with Colonel Kira Nerys and given her blessings, even said that little Avis Ciel would be given to the custody of none other than Ezri Dax. That was an enormous responsibility, but Ezri was willing to accept it.

It had been a week that passed when he was discharged from the infirmary, and then he was approached by Quark as soon as he entered the bar before the start of his shift that morning. He worked all day and finished before the evening began, the hours right and payment of latinum good enough. "Weyoun! The hero of the hour," the Ferengi said as soon as he was behind the bar. "The first round of synthale is awaiting you."

He rolled his eyes. "Good morning to you, Quark. And please, don't call me a hero."

Quark scoffed and poured a green drink into a glass. "Why not? That's what you are."

"Because I have no right to be called that. The Founders called me their best and favored servant, but never a hero of my people. Nor have any others - even those who are my enemies - ever called me such. I don't deserve it."

"That's a pile of tube grub slop," Quark spat, shaking his head and waving his hand. "You rescued a little girl; that's a good deed done enough. They say no good deed goes unpunished, and nothing comes without a price. Well, being called a hero IS a price to pay whether you like it or not, Weyoun. You'll might as well accept that, and in time, you might find it not so bad after all. They always say the little things in life make it all worth it."

The littlest things in life make it all worth it...

"Now, you and Ezri...I heard that you're due back to your people in a few weeks. Meaning you'll end up leaving her behind - or you should take her with you, given you deserve her more than either of you might think." Quark motioned for him to carry out those drinks to the customers who ordered, but when Weyoun did, his mind was abuzz when he might as well be accepting that Quark was right.

Both he and Ezri Dax had different lives in different quadrants; he was chosen to represent his people, he loved serving Odo and was blessed to be called a friend and not a servant. He wanted to stand up now to the other Founders now that he knew he had a better destiny ahead of him - he would be with Odo now with helping his people try and free themselves from the Dominion, regain what had been taken from them. But...if he returned home, he would end up leaving behind the one who mattered the most. Maybe never, or if he did, then it would be years to come. He might not be so lucky as Odo, who had made his decision to leave the Link forever. Weyoun panicked because he could not let him do that just yet.

"Not here to bully me again, are you, Odo? I haven't had the chance to tell you how much I 'miss' you doing that," he heard Quark sarcastically, and whirled around to see his precious superior over there. He almost dropped his empty tray when he hurried over and placed it on the counter before Quark and knew he had to tell him soon rather than later.

"Odo, if it's not a bad time, I must speak to you at once."

"Weyoun," Quark scolded, "I need you behind the bar right now."

"It can wait for a few minutes, Quark," Odo snapped, back to their old version of "love-hate", before turning his attention back to Weyoun. "What is it?"

"You can't leave the Dominion just yet," Weyoun begged, keeping his voice as low as possible. "Our people need me to bring the Vorta and the Jem'Hadar into a new era of freedom as you have helped me, and I don't believe I can do this without you. You are the only hope as my predecessor believed you were - are," he corrected heatedly. "I'm still a mere solid in service of the Founders -"

"That's not true," Odo interrupted, putting both hands on his shoulders. "You're not just a solid, Weyoun. You can do this alone and without me. Your people need you; I have finished my part, and the Founders will not interfere with your way of life any longer, but that does not mean I will not be made aware of everything happening within the Dominion. You can lead your people now, Weyoun, without fear of the other Changelings now. Conquest will no longer be a problem; I have gotten them to see it now. We have helped each other this far; you have a destiny on a path from mine now."

He closed his eyes and relished as well as trembled at the wisdom. He urged himself to remain strong; Odo was right. He had a destiny that he had to bring his people back to, just as the Cardassians had their own; they chose not to accept any help from him and the others, and for that, whatever they deserved would come to them. "Don't forget a certain little lady whom you wanted to get this for; it's on me now."

Weyoun heard himself gasp when he saw, in Quark's hands, the necklace he wanted to get Ezri. In his excitement, he barely contained himself when he excused himself, dashing for Ops and into a turbolift to take him there. He just had to see her now and not a minute to lose. "Ezri!" he called when he finally found her, picking her up and spinning her into his arms.

"Weyoun, what are you doing?!" She was laughing, slightly embarrassed, but he didn't care, and she didn't seem to, either.

"I couldn't wait, Ezri," he told her when he set her down. "I had to give you this without another minute to waste." He held up the necklace in the box, and her eyes widened.

"It's beautiful," she said, taking it from him, "and you could not wait until tonight?"

"Not once," he answered, his heart racing suddenly when what he had been thinking about for the last few weeks had come back to mind. He had overheard this from a couple humans on the station, and other species he could not recall, but it made sense to him that he could not bear the memory of which she had been forced to wed his predecessor, without the presence of her friends and comrades to watch besides Worf. "Ezri, marry me."

He felt like his insides had shriveled up and exploded with a frenzy when her wide blue orbs remained as they were. "W-what?" Everyone was watching them now, even Odo and Quark, but he did not care. The ring was still around her finger, but that did not change anything. It was from him to her.

"Marry me," Weyoun repeated with stronger conviction.

"B-But we already are," Ezri said, still baffled.

"I know that, but that was a sham. I want to have a real one with you, just to make you happy, with all these people who love you watching us instead of enemies. Before I return to continue my mission and free my people, I want to make what we already have known in person - but only if you want that, too," he promised, taking her hands into his. "I love you, Ezri Dax, and it's all that matters. Do you want to renew our union before we part ways or not?"

~o~

She and Weyoun were married - again - in Quark's bar, with thirty people, including Odo, Julian and Eris, witnessing close to them, surrounded with flower balls hanging from the balconies and crawling with vines of them from Bajor. It was a beautiful affair, nothing lavish but exactly what she wanted. She could never forget all eyes on her when she walked herself towards him...and Weyoun's glowing eyes and tear-stained cheeks would forever be imprinted in her memory.

Her dress was soft like her first, with thin straps, but little to no ruching. The ethereal fabric was soft and flowing, sparkling with crystals and pearls in swirls over the bodice and at the waist, the neckline sweet and romantic. Her forehead was accented with yet another circlet this time centered with a moonstone and lighter swirls. Weyoun had actually told her she was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen, and that made it all the more of a difference in the universe. Their hands joined together as Quark himself had done the honors of marrying them in front of everyone and doing his best not to gawk when he said "You may now kiss the bride" and they did.

This was the happiest day of their lives.

She had thought this would be the end of them for awhile then, spending their honeymoon for the next couple days before his ship would leave - but then she was surprised by Kira when she was told she could always be temporarily reassigned to Kurill Prime in the Gamma Quadrant.

She was going back to Weyoun's homeworld.

Ciel was coming back with them, and so was Odo - temporarily. He claimed he wanted to "keep an eye" on them. Ciel was going on with excitement how she would finally get to see another planet that wasn't Bajor or another station like DS9. Ezri had to admit that she looked forward to seeing Kurill Prime as she was told it might be an opponent of Risa if she saw it...

"We are here."

The runabout came to a land somewhere, and Ezri as well as little Ciel had a glimpse of Kurill Prime for the first time. Both of them gasped, but Ciel shrieked and jumped up and down at the sight before them. "Oh, it's so lovely! Ezri, Odo, Weyoun, look at it!"

She leaned against Weyoun when he breathed in and let it out through his nostrils. "I never realized how...beautiful it was until now," he whispered to her.

Kurill Prime was set on an island, like Risa, although it was more of a serene blend of Asia on Earth, as well as tropical influences. The trees were lusciously curved and crawling with vines of what she recognized as the favored rippleberries for Weyoun's people, the sand a crystalline silver-toned white, and the greenery lush and splashing with vivid colored flowers resembling orchids, lilies and roses, as well as exotic-looking blossoms. The water life, from the streams and rivers, waterfalls as well as the sea surrounding, were an opalescent shade of turquoise blue matching the skies. It was the most...beautiful oasis she had ever seen. It was not compared to the oases on Earth.

This was her new home now. She felt homesick from Deep Space 9, but she and Weyoun would be back there soon - but she also felt like this did not do Risa or Bajor justice.

As soon as they were all out, Ciel ran out laughing and rolling in the grass, like a younger child than she was. She loved Kurill Prime already. Odo followed her after sealing the runabout and joining her in the fields, adoring her as much as he had bonded with little Taya so long ago. Ezri wondered now why she did not change out of her lieutenant's garb to feel the sweet, soft air on her skin. She stood in front of the majestic scenery with her husband by her side, proud to be Weyoun's bride. She would enjoy living here while being beside him and being counselor to his people, maybe becoming something higher than the rank of lieutenant. She was the ambassador's wife, so why not?

"This is the same spot Eris and I were before the Founder and her Jem'Hadar came for us," Weyoun said, gesturing to the clearing before them; they had landed somewhere in the mountains not much different from Japan's, domineered by more trees and flowers, waterfalls heard in the distance. "We were going to...take it to the next level before our whole lives together were taken away." He was standing behind her, his arms wrappring around her waist to pull her close. Ezri's own wrapped around to place above them.

"We could always pick up from there." She turned her head behind and saw a devious glint in his eyes that turned her engine on. He leaned down and captured her lips briefly, humming and sending vibrations.

"Mmm, sounds promising. Only this time it's you and I. You're here in my world now, Ezri Dax. You belong to me, and we're going to rebuild my people's way of life together. Are you happy now, unlike when my predecessor took you against your will?"

"I am," she answered with a proud smile he returned.

It had been a dream to do Weyoun and Ezri Dax, the thanks going very much to Sensara who loves this. :) As well as my friend sarah1228 whose support I've also had. I really have nothing much to say, no regrets, other than thank you for reading. The environment and landscapes of Kurill Prime was a paradise, which is also present in "Weyoun and Mia: His Enemy's Daughter", the first in a trilogy. Very soon I'll begin the third and final, "Yelgrun and Lynet: Chosen for the Marriage Bed". :D